Category: Homilies

Peter and his partners caught nothing until Jesus showed them where to fish in in today’s gospel. Jesus calls us, too, to “fish” for others – with hooks of love and lines of kindness. And, like the apostles, we don’t have to worry about the size of the catch.  Jesus, as Fr Paul points out, will make it happen.

Today’s Readings

[God] delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption.
COL 1:9-14

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. “When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
LK 5:1-11

What struck Fr Ed in this morning’s readings were St Paul’s and St Luke’s descriptions of how Jesus brings us into intimate, healing and enabling contact with God.  Hopefully we’ll be able respond as Simon’s mother-in-law did – ready and willing to serve the Lord!

Today’s Readings

Just as in the whole world [the gospel] is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth … [and] your love in the Spirit.
COL1:1-8

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever… He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.
LK 4:38-44

Fr Peter suggests that if you only had two words to describe today’s reading from St Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians they’d be “get ready.”  St Paul, like the members of his churches, expected the immanent return of Jesus. Although, after more than 2,000 years of waiting, we continue to wait for Jesus’ “second coming,” St Paul’s advice is still sound. We should live every day as though it were our last – one day it will be!

Today’s Readings

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters … you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.
1 THES 5:1-6, 9-11

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.
LK 4:31-37

Fr Paul notes that the prophetic vision Jesus brings to his hometown in today’s gospel doesn’t go over well with its inhabitants.  Their vision has narrowed to just themselves, while Jesus’ wider vision includes all who are vulnerable. If, unlike the townsfolk of Nazareth, we wish to embrace Jesus, then we must first open our minds and hearts to those whom Jesus sees.

Today’s Readings

If we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 THES 4:13-18

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went … into the synagogue … [and read from] a scroll of the prophet Isaiah… “The Spirit of the Lord … has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor …  proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
LK 4:16-30

Biblical scholars agree that today’s “eye of the needle” gospel is about how difficult it is for those who cling to material wealth to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Fr Charlie points out that even those of us who don’t have much material wealth are born with great spiritual wealth that we must not cling to either. We are all born rich with a God-given capacity for love, patience, compassion, understanding, empathy, and forgiveness. All these we are called to give freely to others.

Today’s Readings

The angel of the LORD appeared to [Gideon] and said, “The LORD is with you, O champion!” Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us?”
JGS 6:11-24A

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
MT 19:23-30

Jesus advises the rich young man in today’s gospel that if he wishes to be perfect he needs to sell all that he has, give to the poor, and then follow him. Like the rich young man, we might find it difficult to give away everything. But, in the end, it’s following Jesus that makes us who we are.  What else do we truly need if we “possess” the Lord?  

Today’s Readings

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
JGS 2:11-19

Jesus said to [the rich young man], “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
MT 19:16-22

Jesus declares that he has come to “set the earth on fire” in today’s gospel.  Fr Peter notes that the image of fire is used throughout scripture to signify the creative, cleansing, and redeeming power of God.  Dare we enter the fiery furnace of God’s love with Jesus?  If we can, we can be sure that God will not only preserve us, he will bring us to eternal life.

Today’s Readings

In those days, the princes said to the king: “Jeremiah ought to be put to death.”
JER 38:4-6, 8-10

Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.
HEB 12:1-4

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”
LK 12:49-53

Jesus’ focus in today’s gospel is on how wrong it is for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever. Divorce in 1st century Palestine, Fr Charlie points out, forced a woman into either begging or prostitution. Divorce itself isn’t the sin but forcing a person to choose between begging or prostitution for any cause whatever certainly is.

Today’s Readings

“I gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not built, to dwell in.”
JOS 24:1-13

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,”Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”
MT 19:3-12

Fr Greg points out that Mary proclaims the Lord’s justice in today’s gospel.  Growing within her womb is the one who would fulfill God’s promise to Abraham and his children forever: The proud will be scattered and the mighty cast down; the lowly will be lifted up and the hungry fed with good things. When we lift up the oppressed around us we, too, become part of Mary’s song.

Today’s Readings

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB

Just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
1 COR 15:20-27

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…  [He] has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”
LK 1:39-56